However, a Cambridge university spokesperson has confirmed to The Commentator that there was a "misunderstanding" this past weekend, and that Prof. Hawking had pulled out of the conference for medical reasons. A University spokesman said: "Professor Hawking will not be attending the conference in Israel in June for health reasons - his doctors have advised against him flying."

Looks like The Guardian is doubling down and Cambridge is retracting its statement. And I had such high respect for Hawking, too. What a putz:http://www.thecommentator.com/article/3477/_boycott_all_the_way_as_cambridge_university_retracts_hawking_health_statement